JOSH HONOHAN won’t have many fortnights like this.
An own goal and then a winner against Shelbourne ensured that he packed as many roller coaster moments into 90 minutes on Friday night as he did across the two weeks prior to his visit to Tolka Park.
There was the low of a verbal blast from manager Stephen Bradley after his display against Galway United, the high of his arrival in the senior Ireland camp and then a knock that left him benched for the friendlies against Senegal and Luxembourg.
After his defensive pal Dan Cleary headed Rovers in front against Shels, the Hoops looked to be cruising before Honohan headed the ball past his own goalkeeper.
But the talented 24-year-old had the last word when he smashed home the winner, goal number three of the season for the former Cork City man.
The result leaves Rovers six points clear of Bohemians at the top of the table, and with the chance to extend that to nine when they travel to Drogheda United on Monday - albeit they will have played two more games than their city rivals.
As for defending champions Shels, they are now 12 points off the pace.
Onto the big talking point of the night - would there be a handshake between two managers whose relationship had soured in recent times?
The lack of one in the Tallaght fixture earlier this year exposed the rift between the pair, but ahead of kick-off their hands met with a thunderous clap.
Duff, who stood waiting near the centre-circle for his opposite number, instigated the gesture.
From a distance it appeared that no words were exchanged, but both men had their minds on the small matter of getting one over on the other in the battle for three crucial points.
For Bradley, there was an early blow when he was forced into a sixth minute substitution.
Former Celtic defender Adam Matthews has managed just eight appearances since his move last winter, and an injury led to him being replaced by Lee Grace.
It wasn’t long, however, before concerns for Matthews turned to cheers in the Rovers end, as another centre-half delivered the opening goal of the game.
Shels boss Duff opted for a man-marking job on Rovers dangerman Jack Byrne, with Tyreke Wilson moving into midfield to keep tabs on the four-time capped Ireland international.
But there was nothing Wilson could do when a clumsy challenge by Ellis Chapman on Matt Healy gave Byrne a 12th minute opportunity to deliver a trademark deadball delivery.
Hugging the right touchline, Byrne sent an outswinger into the Shels box, and Cleary ran from deep to head the ball into the left-hand corner of the net.
Ironically, the Wilson tactic gave Byrne an opportunity to orchestrate play without the ball, as he started to make runs that opened up space for teammates to run into.
Dragging the Shels wing-back-turned-man-marker from side to side, he was often spotted applauding when the gaps were exploited.
All indicators pointed to the next goal being scored by the team in green and white - and that’s exactly what happened. Unfortunately for Honohan, he put the ball into the wrong net.
With 32 minutes on the clock, Kameron Ledwidge teased in a dangerous delivery that Honohan knew he had to deal with as Evan Caffrey was right behind him.
But as the ball came towards him at an awkward height, he stooped to meet it with his head rather than with his foot, and managed only to send it past the stunned Ed McGinty.
Despite that set-back, Rovers would have gone in ahead in the closing seconds of first-half injury-time, but for a fine save by Shels goalkeeper Conor Kearns to deny Danny Grant.
Aaron McEneff should have restored Rovers’ lead when he rose unmarked to meet a Grant cross, but the midfielder directed his header straight at Kearns from just eight yards.
Cleary had the ball in the net again, only for referee Rob Harvey to spot a block by Aaron Greene on Boyd and whistle for a free out.
As the game stretched in the closing stages, Shels sub Harry Wood went close, before an Odubeko run led to a Boyd shot that was blocked.
With seven minutes of normal time to play, Rovers attacked down the left and Aaron Greene’s cross was blocked by Sean Gannon, but only into the path of Graham Burke.
He touched the ball to Honohan and the wing-back drove the ball high into the net from 20 yards, before going off moments later with an injury.
The best Shels produced in their efforts to draw level again were a pair of Wood shots in quick succession, with Grant and then Grace coming up with big blocks.